Learn what bluebirds need and want -- and all about their pleasing personalities -- during a free program 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 23, at New Quarter Park in upper York County.

In my York County yard, bluebirds enjoy special houses, wide-open flying spaces and freeze-dried mealworms in a caged feeder that other birds can't access. Year after year, we enjoy the sights, sounds and antics of these wonderful birds, who sometimes follow us around the yard as they try to tell us their feeder needs filling.

During Saturday's program, you can learn about the bluebird monitoring program from Triangle region-wide Master Naturalists Lois Ullman and Jan Lockwood.

Participants will also learn how to build a nest box and monitor birds in their own backyard. Join us to find out why bluebirds and other cavity nesters are so important to us.

Meet the Master Naturalists in Shelter 1 at the park. In case of inclement weather, the talk will be held nearby at Griffin-Yeates Center, 1490 Government Road.

In addition to their work as Master Naturalists, Ullman and Lockwood are area coordinators for the Virginia Bluebird Society. Their Historic Rivers Master Naturalists chapter took over monitoring New Quarter Park’s bluebird trail in 2009, and the following year the group became involved with collecting data for the Bluebird Society, according to a news release.

Over time, other Master Naturalists began forwarding their data from park, neighborhood, and golf course trails to the duo and now Ullman and Lockwood lead the Historic Triangle’s efforts to shelter and welcome hundreds of new birds to the world each spring.

New Quarter Park is located in upper York County between Cheatham Annex and the Queens Lake neighborhood. Follow the Colonial Parkway to the Queens Lake exit and turn right at the bottom of the ramp. Travel a short distance and turn onto Lakeshead Drive. Follow Lakeshead for two miles to the park gate, then one more mile to the parking lot and park office.

For more information, call York County Parks and Recreation at 890-3513 or New Quarter Park at 890-5840.